Electrician

Working life

The NHS relies on electric power and electrical equipment. They are essential to keep hospitals and other NHS buildings safe and working efficiently. Many NHS services use complex electrical equipment to treat patients, keep IT-based records and provide services such as heating, catering, laundry, etc.

As an electrician in the NHS, your work will include:

• planned maintenance
• repairing equipment that is broken or faulty
• testing equipment and systems
• improvements and installations

Who will I work with?

You'll work alongside other estates services staff such as plumbers [1], carpenters [2] or bricklayers [3] as well as estates and facilities managers [4]. You may travel between sites in an NHS vehicle or their own van.

While electricians are working inside a building, staff and patients may be there, but electricians do not have direct contact with healthcare staff or patients.

Electricians may work for businesses providing electrical services to the NHS.

Entry requirements 

To be fully qualified as an electrician, you need a level 3 qualification, usually an NVQ and/or a Diploma in Installing Electrotechnical Systems and Equipment.

Although electricians often join the NHS fully qualified and experienced, it may be possible to train as an electrician.  Employers usually ask for at least three GCSEs (or equivalent), including maths, English and science. They may ask for some experience in construction or other practical work and a driving licence.

There are sometimes apprenticeships in estates support/estates maintenance that can provide this type of experience. Find out more about apprenticeships [5]

Skills needed

Electricians need to be

• very health and safety aware
• able to follow procedures
• careful and responsible
• able to work alone or unsupervised when necessary
• able to work to deadlines
• good manual (hand) skills
• organisational skills
• time management skills

Training and development 

When you start as a trainee electrician, your training will include

• health and safety
• how to use the tools and equipment
• all aspects of electrical work

You will be encouraged to study for qualifications such as NVQs.

• Pay and conditions

  Estates staff working in the NHS are paid on the Agenda for Change (AfC) [6] pay system. As an estates support worker, you could start on AfC [7] band 2. As a qualified electrician in estates maintenance, you will typically start on AfC [7] band 3. With further training and experience, you could apply for more senior positions at bands 4 and above. 

  Electricians in the NHS work standard hours of around 37.5 a week. The job may involve shifts including early starts, evenings and weekends. Electricians may be part of an on-call rota for emergency cover.

  Terms and conditions will usually be different for electricians working outside of the NHS.

• Where the role can lead

  Once fully qualified and with experience, an electrician can become a team leader, supervising the work of others. With further experience you could progress to manager, responsible for electrical services in a hospital, area or trust.

  Electricians may be able to move into other estates services roles [8] such as estates technician [9]. They can apply to train as engineers [10]. 

  There are opportunities outside the NHS.

• Job market and vacancies

  If you're applying for a role either directly in the NHS or in an organisation that provides NHS services, you'll be asked to show how you think the NHS values apply in your everyday work. Find out more about NHS values. [11]

  Most NHS trusts advertise their vacancies on NHS Jobs [12]. Some advertise on their own websites. You can find a list of NHS organisations on NHS Choices [13].

  Find a vacancy

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  • Maintenance Electrician

    London, SE1 9RT

    Salary:

    £31944.00 to £34937.00

    Type:

    Permanent

    Employer:

    Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust

    Apply now on NHS Jobs for Maintenance Electrician job (opens in a new window) [14]

  • Maintenance Electrician

    Prestwich, M253BL

    Salary:

    £26530.00 to £29114.00

    Type:

    Permanent

    Employer:

    Greater Manchester Mental Health NHSFT

    Apply now on NHS Jobs for Maintenance Electrician job (opens in a new window) [15]

  • Shift Electrician - Chorley Hospital

    Chorley, PR7 1PP

    Salary:

    £26530.00 to £29114.00

    Type:

    Permanent

    Employer:

    Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

    Apply now on NHS Jobs for Shift Electrician - Chorley Hospital job (opens in a new window) [16]

  • Electrical Engineer

    Essex, RM13 8HY

    Salary:

    £59490.00 to £66239.00

    Type:

    Permanent

    Employer:

    London Ambulance Service NHS Trust

    Apply now on NHS Jobs for Electrical Engineer job (opens in a new window) [17]

  • Electrical Tradesperson

    Weston-super-Mare, BS23 4TQ

    Salary:

    £27485.00 to £30162.00

    Type:

    Permanent

    Employer:

    University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW)

    Apply now on NHS Jobs for Electrical Tradesperson job (opens in a new window) [18]

  • Engineering Tradesperson Electrical

    Bridgend, CF31 1SQ

    Salary:

    £30420.00 to £37030.00

    Type:

    Permanent

    Employer:

    Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board

    Apply now on NHS Jobs for Engineering Tradesperson Electrical job (opens in a new window) [19]

  • Craftsman (Electrical Engineering)

    Plymouth, PL6 8DH

    Salary:

    £26530.00 to £29114.00

    Type:

    Permanent

    Employer:

    University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust

    Apply now on NHS Jobs for Craftsman (Electrical Engineering) job (opens in a new window) [20]

  • Shift Engineer - Electrical

    Liverpool, L14 5AB

    Salary:

    £42000.00 to £45000.00

    Type:

    Permanent

    Employer:

    Care & Custody - A Mitie Company

    Apply now on NHS Jobs for Shift Engineer - Electrical job (opens in a new window) [21]

  • Engineering Apprentice (Electrical)

    Plymouth, PL6 8AX

    Salary:

    £26530.00 to £29114.00

    Type:

    Permanent

    Employer:

    University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust

    Apply now on NHS Jobs for Engineering Apprentice (Electrical) job (opens in a new window) [22]

  • Estates Officer (Electrical Bias)

    Burton-on-Trent, DE13 0RB

    Salary:

    £42938.70 to £51706.30

    Type:

    Permanent

    Employer:

    University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust

    Apply now on NHS Jobs for Estates Officer (Electrical Bias) job (opens in a new window) [23]

  • Engineering Technician (Electrical Bias)

    Worthing, BN11 2DH

    Salary:

    £29970.00 to £36483.00

    Type:

    Permanent

    Employer:

    University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)

    Apply now on NHS Jobs for Engineering Technician (Electrical Bias) job (opens in a new window) [24]

  • Estates Technician (Electrical Bias)

    Torquay, TQ2 7AA

    Salary:

    £26530.00 to £29114.00

    Type:

    Permanent

    Employer:

    Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust

    Apply now on NHS Jobs for Estates Technician (Electrical Bias) job (opens in a new window) [25]

  • Estates Electrical Maintenance Manager

    Chelmsford, CM1 7WE

    Salary:

    £46148.00

    Type:

    Permanent

    Employer:

    Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust

    Apply now on NHS Jobs for Estates Electrical Maintenance Manager job (opens in a new window) [26]

  • Estates Tradesperson (Electrical Bias)

    Crumpsall, M8 5RB

    Salary:

    £29970.00 to £36483.00

    Type:

    Permanent

    Employer:

    Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust

    Apply now on NHS Jobs for Estates Tradesperson (Electrical Bias) job (opens in a new window) [27]

  • General Maintenance Assistant – Electrical

    Bournemouth, BH7 7DW

    Salary:

    £24625.00 to £25674.00

    Type:

    Permanent

    Employer:

    University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust

    Apply now on NHS Jobs for General Maintenance Assistant – Electrical job (opens in a new window) [28]

  • Specialist Craftsperson Electrical - Shifts

    317 Royal Victoria Infirmary, NE1 4LP

    Salary:

    £29970.00 to £36483.00

    Type:

    Permanent

    Employer:

    The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

    Apply now on NHS Jobs for Specialist Craftsperson Electrical - Shifts job (opens in a new window) [29]

  • Engineering Tradesperson – (Core Trade Electrical)

    Merthyr Tydfil, CF47 9DT

    Salary:

    £30420.00 to £37030.00

    Type:

    Permanent

    Employer:

    Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board

    Apply now on NHS Jobs for Engineering Tradesperson – (Core Trade Electrical) job (opens in a new window) [30]

  • Estates Officer (Building, Mechanical & Electrical)

    Dartford, DA2 8DA

    Salary:

    £39205.00 to £47084.00

    Type:

    Permanent

    Employer:

    Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust

    Apply now on NHS Jobs for Estates Officer (Building, Mechanical & Electrical) job (opens in a new window) [31]

  • Engineering Tradesperson – (Core Trade Electrical)

    Merthyr Tydfil, CF47 9DT

    Salary:

    £30420.00 to £37030.00

    Type:

    Permanent

    Employer:

    Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board

    Apply now on NHS Jobs for Engineering Tradesperson – (Core Trade Electrical) job (opens in a new window) [32]

  • Electrical Engineering Technician (Multi-skilled)

    Haywards Heath, RH16 4EX

    Salary:

    £29970.00 to £36483.00

    Type:

    Permanent

    Employer:

    University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)

    Apply now on NHS Jobs for Electrical Engineering Technician (Multi-skilled) job (opens in a new window) [33]

  • Multi Skilled Electrical / Mechanical Engineering Apprentice

    Gateshead, NE96SX

    Salary:

    £16817.00

    Type:

    Apprenticeship

    Employer:

    QE Facilities

    Apply now on NHS Jobs for Multi Skilled Electrical / Mechanical Engineering Apprentice job (opens in a new window) [34]

  • Engineering Tradesperson (Core Trade Electrical) - Days

    Swansea, SA6 6NL

    Salary:

    £30420.00 to £37030.00

    Type:

    Permanent

    Employer:

    Swansea Bay University Health Board

    Apply now on NHS Jobs for Engineering Tradesperson (Core Trade Electrical) - Days job (opens in a new window) [35]

  • Multi-Skilled Maintenance Craftsperson (Mechanical/Electrical)

    Hexham, NE46 1QJ

    Salary:

    £29970.00 to £36483.00

    Type:

    Permanent

    Employer:

    Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

    Apply now on NHS Jobs for Multi-Skilled Maintenance Craftsperson (Mechanical/Electrical) job (opens in a new window) [36]

  • Estates Officer (Electrical Bias), GMS Band D1

    Gloucester, GL1 3NN

    Salary:

    £38837.00 to £45658.00

    Type:

    Permanent

    Employer:

    Gloucestershire Managed Services

    Apply now on NHS Jobs for Estates Officer (Electrical Bias), GMS Band D1 job (opens in a new window) [37]

• Further information

  • Construction Industry Training Board [38]
  • Electrical Contractors Association [39]